Overview

This 62-foot aluminum catamaran, built in 2011, is powered by two Daewoo 220 HP engines for a high end speed of 14 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots. The twin hull catamaran design provides substantially more space both above and below deck compared to a mono-hull of the same length. The Sibon Baru will be home-ported in Padang taking groups of 8-12 passengers from the Mentawai islands to the Telos. With a crew of four, a captain, a chef and two deckhands the staff is there to make sure you have a great experience both in and out of the lineup. Meals have a mix of Western and Asian flair. Tuna, mackerel and Mahi Mahi are common ingredients and the chef prides himself in serving fresh healthy food.

The Captain of the Sibon Baru has years of experience in the Mentawai Islands and the islands north of the Mentawais’ such as Telos, Nias, Hinakos, and Banyaks. The Sibon Baru is built with the best in modern navigational and surf-finding devices.

Accommodations

Accommodations

The 62ft aluminum catamaran is accompanied by a hard-bottom Hypolon inflatable thirteen foot tender powered by a Yamaha 25 HP outboard. Passengers sleep in twin bunk cabins and share two bathrooms with a third up on deck. The interior saloon is air conditioned with the best of the best in audio and visual equipment. There is a water-maker for a constant supply of fresh water. The power system has been fortified to accommodate the entertainment, computer and photography needs of guests sorting images and editing videos.

Surf

Surf

Sibon Baru is intimately familiar with the Mentawai islands and those spots further off the beaten track in northern Sumatra such as Telo, Nias, Hinako and Pulau Banyak.From up north to down south the following is a list of better known spots from which to choose (leaving out some semi-secret and un-named spots):

Treasure Island is the crown jewel of the Banyaks, a very long right-hander provides a smooth take off ramp leading into a long wall and hollow inside section. Be careful of “The Claw” at the end that can pinch and not let you out.

Two Palms around the corner is a super fun skate ramp style left hander breaking into a beautiful white sand beach.

Bay Of Plenty has two lefts and a right breaking off the top of a narrow but deep bay. The waves on the outside of the bay (especially the left) can be world class with a tube followed by a long wall. The protected left inside the bay is super fun and non threatening for those who may want a break from the more intense surf in the area.

Asu can be a perfect but heavy left that ends with a “nuclear zone”

Bawa A right reef that breaks way out to sea, with nothing between the reef and the Southern Ocean. A Sunset-like wave over eight feet.

Lagundri Bay is the perfect, barreling right-hander the world knew as “Nias” in the 80s. This is the wave that inspired more exploration into these islands, but it’s still a crazy-perfect wave after all these years, ruler edge and wrapping into the bay.

Rockstars On the island of Nias, in the neighborhood of Lagundri Bay – just another barreling, world-class right.

Nias (Lagundri Bay) During the 80s, the spot that the world knew as Nias was actually the right at Lagundri Bay. This is the wave that inspired more exploration into these islands, but it’s still a crazy-perfect wave after all these years, ruler edge and wrapping into the bay.

Telo Islands There are a number of spots around the island, including the long, bowling Max’s Left, the fun, bowling Max’s Right, a hollow right at GT’s, the longboard-perfect right at Pinnacles as well as Schoolyards, Le Ba, the Bubble and the E.R.

Ebay A perfect barreling left that needs a bit more swell. Very scenic.

Kandui A very fast, challenging, barreling lefthander that breaks from 3 – 12 feet, but is Triple Black Diamond over six feet.

Nokandui A long, hollow freight-train left hander, that needs size and perfect conditions to be makeable.

4 Bobs Short right well protected from most winds, shallow reef.

Bank Vaults Right hander that can be a little shifty, but serves up backdoor barrels. Very heavy board snapping power with size.

Telescopes A long, beautiful lefthand reef pass that is out to sea and exposed, so prone to the wind. A spectacular wave.

Lance’s Left Quality fun long left, very consistent, best with southeast wind. Can be a series of lefts if you want to push further up the reef.

Lance’s Right (HT’s) One of the best right hand barrels in the Mentawai with a couple take off zones. Best with no wind or Northwest wind. Be careful of the “Surgeons Table” and inside area of shallow sharp reef.

Macaronis Voted the best wave in the world by Tracks Magazine and “funnest wave” by Waves Magazine, this left hander is the star of countless surf videos. A hollow but manageable take off followed by a long wall that is often workable, or hollow. Makes the average surfer feel like a super star!

Rifles One of the best rights in Indonesia, a long hollow wall with multiple tube sections. To make the length of the wave you must commit to riding the tube, likes the south swell and light northwest winds.

Thunders A swell magnet and “go to” spot when the swell is small. This can be a fun long walled left with multiple tube sections, but when big provides a “Sunset” like drop that sometimes gets a bit fat and shoulders off down the line.

Rags Left A long barreling wave that turns on during large southwest swells and has been surfed up to 15 feet.

Rags Right This wave has been described as “a formidable opponent to your health, safety, and well-being.” Low tide is out of the question, but on a high tide and the proper swell, this is one of the thickest, hollowest tubes in the Mentawais.

The Hole A fast hollow left with quick take off and hollow end section. Ends in very shallow water, better for advanced surfers.

Get the picture? If there is a landmass poking up above the surface of the ocean in this part of the world, it probably has a coral reef protecting it and a perfect wave wrapping around one end or the other.

Seasons & Weather

Seasons & Weather

Nias Island is just below the equator and the northern tip of Sumatra is about 5° north of the equator, so these islands generally see more rainfall than Bali and the islands further southeast. Indonesia as a whole has a tropical climate and in the Northern Sumatra area in particular, there is little difference in the length of a day any time of year. Indonesia’s seasons divide in two: wet and dry.

The wet season begins in October and lasts until March, with the peak rainfall measured in January and February, when high pressure flowing south from the Asian mainland combines with humid air from the Indian Ocean to bring rain throughout the archipelago. Although the northern and western islands receive more rainfall than those areas in the south and east, it can rain at any time of year.

March/April is the beginning of dry season, when high pressure over Australia pushes air north to blanket Indonesia with warm, dry air. The dry season peaks during June through August, which is also in the heart of surf season.

Prime swell season for Indonesia is the southern hemisphere winter months from March/April through September/October when Low pressure systems off Antarctica and the Indian Ocean pulse ground swells toward the equator.

Winds are also a factor to be considered. May through Aug/Sept typically sees easterly trades which are favorable for many of the main breaks. November through February generally sees northwesterly winds, which may not be favorable for the big name breaks, but there are waves that favor this northerly wind direction.

The shoulder or transition months of March/April and September/October will experience light and variable winds due to the changing of seasons. These transition months often experience glassy conditions and can be the best time to sample a larger variety of waves.

Air temperatures range between 75° and 85° all year and water temperatures are always in that same range.

If you want big surf with favorable winds, May to September is probably best. If you want to experience some glassy conditions and get a few more rights and less people but possibly sacrifice some swell size then March/April or late Sept/Oct is probably best. If you don’t mind rain but want good surface conditions and smaller, clean surf with nobody else around: give the off-season a try, from November to February.

Activities

Activities

Water water everywhere. Sibon Baru is a custom-made platform for all kinds of ocean activities: fishing from the tender, snorkeling, free-diving, SUP. The interior and above decks areas are comfortable and shaded and perfect for lounging, reading, catching up on movies and TV shows you don’t have time for back in the modern world. Days are long in the Mentawai, and there is plenty time for reading and relaxing. Take a trip into the interior of any island for an unparallel cultural experience!

On/off site activities include:

Snorkeling

Fishing

Free-diving

SUP

Watching movies

Relaxing

PRICING & PACKAGES

PRICING & PACKAGES

Package Includes:

12 nights / 11 days of surfing in the Mentawai or, as pre-arranged, in North Sumatra (extended trips are available by request)

All transfers to and from Padang airport

Use of tender for transfers to and from the surf & fishing

Use of onboard fishing & snorkeling equipment

Three meals per day & Non-alcoholic refreshments

Use of onboard entertainment systems including DVD video and stereo

What's not included

Airline tickets

Fuel Surcharge (if applicable)

Travel Insurance (compulsory for all guests, including med-evac coverage and coverage for lost charter days)

Use of satellite phone (charged at applicable rates, not available on all boats)

Tips for the crew.

Sibon Baru 2016 schedule availability & price

Typical charters go to the Banyaks-Nias/Hinakos-Telos
All charter dates are available on request to go to the Mentawais